Jan 15th 2010By Derek Evers
Shoutcast Radio Blog
For many of us, our thoughts of Cambodia are limited to the "killing fields" genocide of the Pol Pot regime that have plagued the Country's reputation. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge, with the help of China, evacuated the cities and sent the entire population on forced marches to rural work projects. Aside from forced labor, they discarded medicine and destroyed temples, libraries, and anything considered Western. Including rock 'n' roll.
Released this past Tuesday, the 14-track compilation, 'Electric Cambodia'--selected with care by the members of the Los Angeles rock band Dengue Fever--takes a deep look at the Country's intoxicating rock of the 60s and early 70s. A mating of Western and Eastern sounds, it was an era that produced such noted Southeast Asian musicians as singer-songwriter Sinn Sisamouth, one of the kingpins of the Cambodian music scene, and the brilliant female vocalists Pan Ron and Ros Sereysothea. It is the product of a golden age literally lost in time. This exhilarating style was wiped off the face of the earth when Cambodia's best-known performers--including Sisamouth, Ron, and Sereysothea--became victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide.
While the artists vanished forever, their music somehow survived. Cambodia's electric music has been circulated hand-to-hand on cassettes, duplicated cheaply at high speed and bearing little or no information about the songs or those who performed them. Fortunately, the older sister of Dengue Fever's Cambodia-born lead vocalist Chhom Nimol was able to identify the material and put names to the songs.
The members of Dengue Fever show their respect for the music by performing their rocking renditions of 60s Cambodian music in their live shows--and by committing proceeds from 'Electric Cambodia' to the nurturing of Khmer culture today. Proceeds from the album benefit Cambodian Living Arts, a project of the non-profit Massachusetts-based Marion Institute devoted to supporting the revival of traditional Khmer performing arts and inspiring contemporary artistic expression.
Released this past Tuesday, the 14-track compilation, 'Electric Cambodia'--selected with care by the members of the Los Angeles rock band Dengue Fever--takes a deep look at the Country's intoxicating rock of the 60s and early 70s. A mating of Western and Eastern sounds, it was an era that produced such noted Southeast Asian musicians as singer-songwriter Sinn Sisamouth, one of the kingpins of the Cambodian music scene, and the brilliant female vocalists Pan Ron and Ros Sereysothea. It is the product of a golden age literally lost in time. This exhilarating style was wiped off the face of the earth when Cambodia's best-known performers--including Sisamouth, Ron, and Sereysothea--became victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide.
While the artists vanished forever, their music somehow survived. Cambodia's electric music has been circulated hand-to-hand on cassettes, duplicated cheaply at high speed and bearing little or no information about the songs or those who performed them. Fortunately, the older sister of Dengue Fever's Cambodia-born lead vocalist Chhom Nimol was able to identify the material and put names to the songs.
The members of Dengue Fever show their respect for the music by performing their rocking renditions of 60s Cambodian music in their live shows--and by committing proceeds from 'Electric Cambodia' to the nurturing of Khmer culture today. Proceeds from the album benefit Cambodian Living Arts, a project of the non-profit Massachusetts-based Marion Institute devoted to supporting the revival of traditional Khmer performing arts and inspiring contemporary artistic expression.
4 comments:
Jesus is the Rock that doesn't roll
He's good for your heart, he's good
for your soul. Jesus is a Rock that doesn't roll!
There, that's the Christian Rock for you. Punt intended.
Shut up with your Jesus Crap^^^
why do you damn people like to force people to learn about your religion??? Don't worry when people start to feel retarded they will join your religion.
And this album is just another copy of readily available songs already. Sorry don't mean to bash but I also don't like it when people want to rip each other off.
I have seen the Dengue Fever band perform. they are not that good. I like the oldies songs but my favorite singers in contremporary cambodia are Tep Bopha and Sokun Nisa. they are the next Pen Ron and Ros Sereysothea.
thank you Dengue Fever for your interest in khmer classical music and more. i think khmer music can and will be revive if and when we help to encourage more and more talented and bright young generation of khmer performers, artists and so on to come out and not to be shy and show all their god given talent that they have. due to the past atrocious history of the KR era, many such talented young khmers are afraid to show all their talents in singing, acting and other arts, however, if we all help to educate and encourage them to be courageous, and to show their talent, they will. but that won't be an easy task,really. i truly believe there are thousands of talented khmers out there, just waiting to be discovered. don't forget that ms. ros sereysothea was a good example of the discovered talented vocalist during that time, yes, she was discovered her diva and singing voice and singing talent by accident at that time. nowadays, khmer music and arts advocates have to show incentive as to why talented khmer artists should join or come out to be known. talented khmer now look for some kind of incentives or perks, etc... may god bless cambodia and all our beautiful khmer people and citizens.
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